The Oregon State Beavers Women’s Volleyball team battled back after dropping the first set to defeat Loyola Marymount 3–1 on Saturday afternoon at Gill Coliseum. The set scores were 23–25, 25–17, 25–22, and 25–22.
LMU came out sharp in the opening set, capitalizing on early Beaver errors and late momentum to edge OSU 25–23. Despite the slow start, the Beavers regrouped quickly in front of an energetic home crowd.
Oregon State flipped the script in the second set. Clean passing and efficient hitting gave the Beavers control from start to finish as they rolled 25–17, with the front-row blocking beginning to dictate play.
Set three proved to be a turning point. Both teams traded points in long rallies, but Oregon State’s composure down the stretch made the difference. The Beavers sealed the frame 25–22 behind timely kills and strong serving.
The fourth set followed a similar pattern, with Oregon State jumping out to a big lead early. LMU began to claw back midway through the set, cutting the margin and threatening to extend the match.
Their momentum was halted, however, when one of LMU’s key offensive players, Leah Burrell, suffered a knee injury after landing awkwardly near the net. She was carried off the court to warm applause from both teams and the Gill Coliseum crowd.
Despite LMU’s late push, the Beavers eventually closed out the set 25–22 to clinch the 3–1 victory. The composure in late points once again defined Oregon State’s home-court strength.
Annika Hester shined bright for the Beavers, leading all scorers with 15 kills, while Alana Marrs added 12 kills and steady offensive rhythm. The duo’s consistency powered Oregon State’s comeback after the early deficit.
Among the lively crowd was the Henderson family from Corvallis, who brought their two young kids to enjoy their weekend afternoon at Gill Coliseum. “The energy in here was amazing,” said Sarah Henderson. “Our kids had so much fun cheering and getting free shirts and mini volleyballs from Keila Gabriel. It made their whole day.”
The match highlighted Oregon State’s resilience and depth, with strong serving, tight defense, and smarter transitions defining their turnaround after the first set.
The Beavers Volleyball team was made unavailable post-game.
The Beavers will look to carry that same energy when they host San Diego at Gill Coliseum on Nov. 13.
